System for a sterile collection bag

Abstract

The body of a sterile collection bag has opposed sidewalls and an upper body end. The interior of the body defines a sterile collection space for an object. First and second flexible closure strips having integrated centrally located wires are attached to the bag sidewalls and extend beyond the side wall edges. The upper end of the body includes one or more small notches cut into the body sidewalls to facilitate tearing of the upper body end from the bag body, with abrupt edges of the strips acting as tear guides. Pull tabs attached to the closure strips can be drawn apart to open the mouth of the bag for insertion of a sample.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. A collection bag comprising: 
       a body including opposed sidewalls and an upper body end, the body having a width, each sidewall being constructed of polymer film and having an exterior surface and a center section, the body having bottom, top and sidewall edges and an interior collection space for a sample; and  
       an opening mechanism located near the upper body end and generally parallel thereto, the opening mechanism including first and second flexible closure members extending widthwise of the body, each closure member including a plastic strip having a first end and a second end and a centrally located malleable wire embedded therein, the closure members being attached to the sidewall exterior surfaces of the body in directly opposed relationship, each flexible closure member being longer than the width of the body so as to project beyond the sidewall edges, the closure members having substantially rigid and abrupt edges adjacent to the upper body end to facilitate transverse tearing of the polymer film along the rigid and abrupt edges for removal of the upper body end with the rigid and abrupt edges serving as lateral tear guides.  
     
     
       2. The bag of  claim 1 , in which the bottom, top and sidewall edges of the body are sealed. 
     
     
       3. The bag of  claim 2 , in which the ends of the closure members projecting beyond the sidewall edges are secured together. 
     
     
       4. The bag of  claim 2 , in which the opening mechanism includes first and second pull tabs formed of thin sheet material, each pull tab being attached to the midsection of a sidewall exterior surface, said pull tabs providing a means for drawing the sidewalls of the bag away from one another. 
     
     
       5. The bag of  claim 4 , in which each pull tab has a portion interposed between the bag body and the adjacent closure member and a projecting portion hanging loose relative to the bag body. 
     
     
       6. The bag of  claim 5 , in which the projecting portion of each tab is brightly colored or permanently marked. 
     
     
       7. The bag of  claim 5 , in which the projecting portion of each tab is textured for writing of identifying indicia thereon. 
     
     
       8. The bag of  claim 2 , in which the upper body end is brightly colored or permanently marked. 
     
     
       9. The bag of  claim 2 , wherein at least a first end of each plastic strip has a central indentation such that the end of the malleable wire is recessed relative to the adjacent end of the plastic strip. 
     
     
       10. The bag of  claim 2 , in which the plastic strips have opposite longitudinal edges and front and back surfaces extending between said edges, the back surfaces being flat and the front surfaces having respective central projecting ribs in which the wires are embedded. 
     
     
       11. The bag of  claim 2 , in which the ends of the closure members projecting beyond the sidewall edges are not secured together. 
     
     
       12. A sterile collection bag comprising: 
       a body including opposed sidewalls and an upper body end, the body having a width, each sidewall being constructed of polymer film and having an exterior surface and a center section, the body having bottom, top and sidewall edges and an interior collection space for a sample, the sidewall edges having sealed marginal portions; and  
       an opening mechanism located near the upper body end and generally parallel thereto, the opening mechanism including first and second flexible closure members extending widthwise of the body, each closure member including a plastic strip having a first end and a second end and a centrally located malleable wire embedded therein, the closure members being attached to the sidewall exterior surfaces of the body in directly opposed relationship, each flexible closure member being longer than the width of the body so as to project beyond the sidewall edges, the closure members having substantially rigid and abrupt edges adjacent to the upper body end to facilitate transverse tearing of the polymer film along the rigid and abrupt edges for removal of the upper body end with the rigid and abrupt edges serving as a lateral tear guide, the body including at least one notch formed in one of the sidewall edges without penetrating beyond the corresponding sealed marginal portion at a location adjacent to the closure members.  
     
     
       13. The bag of  claim 12 , in which the bottom and top edges of the body are sealed. 
     
     
       14. The bag of  claim 13 , in which the ends of the closure members projecting beyond the sidewall edges are secured together. 
     
     
       15. The bag of  claim 13 , in which the opening mechanism includes first and second pull tabs formed of thin sheet material, each pull tab being attached to the midsection of a sidewall exterior surface, said pull tabs providing a means for drawing the sidewalls of the bag away from one another. 
     
     
       16. The bag of  claim 15 , in which each pull tab has a portion interposed between the bag body and the adjacent closure member and a projecting portion hanging loose relative to the bag body. 
     
     
       17. The bag of  claim 16 , in which the projecting portion of each tab is brightly colored or permanently marked. 
     
     
       18. The bag of  claim 16 , in which the projecting portion of each tab is textured for writing of identifying indicia thereon. 
     
     
       19. The bag of  claim 13 , in which the upper body end is brightly colored or permanently marked. 
     
     
       20. The bag of  claim 13 , wherein at least a first end of each plastic strip has a central indentation such that the end of the malleable wire is recessed relative to the adjacent end of the plastic strip. 
     
     
       21. The bag of  claim 13 , in which the plastic strips have opposite longitudinal edges and front and back surfaces extending between said edges, the back surfaces being flat and the front surfaces having respective central projecting ribs in which the wires are embedded. 
     
     
       22. The bag of  claim 13 , in which the ends of the closure members projecting beyond the sidewall edges are not secured together.